Orissa
is witnessing unprecedented violence against the tiny Christian minority.
On August 23, 2008, Swami Laxmananand along with his four followers
was killed, probably by a group of Maoists. Immediately, anti-Christian
violence began on big scale. The way it began it seemed as if preparations
for it were well afoot. It was systematic and widespread. It sounded
as if preparation was already there, just the pretext was being waited
for. So far many innocent Christians have been killed, wounded and
rendered homeless apart from many Churches having been torched. The
RSS combine, VHP-Adivasi Kalyan Ashram-Bajarang Dal, allege that Swami
was killed by Christians, or there is collusion between Maoists and
Christians. It is unlikely that there is any such alliance between
the two. Any way, what is important is that the crime of murder of
Swami must be properly investigated and guilty must be punished as
per the law of the land.

Just to
recall anti Christian tirade was also launched in December 2007, around
Christmas time. That time also the pretext was that Christians have
beaten up Swami and so this ‘revenge’. For RSS combine
launching such bouts of violence by now is becoming a child’s
play. Search for a pretext, launch your well oiled machinery for the
communal agenda, communalize the society along religious lines and
strengthen your political base seems to be its trajectory. The similar
phenomenon was observed in Gujarat, after the burning of Sabarmati
coach S 6 at Godhra. Modi announced that it has been done by local
Muslims. There was no need to wait for the proper investigation, no
need to follow the norm of railway board that every such event must
be investigated, and tirade was launched with full vigor, and split
in the society along religious lines was brought in ensuring BJP coming
back to power. This victory of BJP was despite the decline of popularity
of BJP.
Anti incumbency was nullified and Modi returned to power to further
his agenda. Power of polarizing the society by communal violence was
at display at its worst.

This, by
now is the standard technique, spread canards, myths, biases against
minorities, look for pretext and go for the kill under the tolerating
eyes of communalized state apparatus. If BJP is in power or is an
ally in the seat of power, the job is easier. Anti Christian violence
went on higher gear in the same year in which BJP came to power in
the Center in 1996. The pretext was that Christian missionaries are
converting the gullible Adivasis by force, fraud and allurement. This
incitement was skillfully utilized by Adivasis Kalyan Ashram, VHP
and Bajrang dal, and the violence started going up in intensity over
the years. The most ghastly of this was seen in the burning alive
of Pastor Graham Stains along with his two innocent sons, aged 11
and 7 years. This was immediately followed by the murder of Fr. Arul
Das. Also Sheikh Rahman was killed on the charges of trading in cows
for slaughter.

Anti Christian
atmosphere was built up and as this was more
in the remote places where Adivasis do not have easy access to law,
police etc, anyway there efficacy in helping minorities from the onslaught
of RSS combine is also doubtful by now, the process has been going
on and on. The violence kept on simmering and kept taking intense
forms around the Christmas times. In a way a new Christmas ritual
of burning churches and beating up Christians around Christmas time
became a sort of annual event. It is immaterial that the number of
Christians is miniscule in Indian society, it is immaterial that Christian
missionaries are working in India from first century A.D. itself,
it is immaterial that the despite the allegations from RSS combine,
the population of Christians as per the census figures has been declining
constantly. In the face of these facts the argument proffered was
that since the converts to Christianity don’t want to loose
their privileges that don’t declare their true religion and
are crypto Christians. The simple point is that Adivasis, where the
missionary work is maximum, don’t loose such privileges after
conversion. Gobbles must be turning in his grave with his followers
surpassing him many times over!

In it not
a mere coincidence that maximum violence in Adivasi areas has been
seen in the poorest regions. Dangs in Gujarat is the poorest district
of Gujarat, and Orissa is amongst the poorest states of the country.
The main reason for violence against Christians is to ensure that
the welfare, educational services offered by them do not reach the
Adivasis and that they remain poor and illiterate, that the status
quo in these areas prevails so that the democratic space for these
wretched of the society is blocked by the religiosity cultivated through
Swamis.

We saw
two processes of co-option and one political process of intimidation
in these regions. Through Swamis, Laxmananad (Orissa), Assemanand
(Dangs) and followers of Asaram bapu in Jhabua area, they did the
cooption work, Gharvapasi, conversion in to Hinduism. Through mega
processes like Shabri Kumbh in Dangs, Hindu Sangams in other Adivasi
areas, an intimidating atmosphere has been created to draw them to
RSS fold. The other process is the political one. This is the building
up of mechanism where by Dara Singh’s, and his clones are ready
waiting for pretexts to pounce upon the social fabric of unity. The
violence is made to look as spontaneous and is a part of a process
of revenge. It is neither, it is well planned un-folding of RSS agenda.
Even Wadhva Commission, pointed out that there was no conversion activity
by Pastor Stains. The civic rights groups have pointed out that the
violence has political foundations and has nothing to do with religion
or conversion. A Peoples tribunal headed by retired Justice Usha also
warned about the preparedness of the communal organizations for violence,

The case
of Orissa was specifically investigated by India Peoples Tribunal,
led by Justice K.K.Usha (retired) of Kerala High court in 2006 (Communalism
in Orissa). This tribunal forewarns about the shape of things to come.
" The tribunal assessed the spread of communal organizations
in Orissa, which has been accompanied by a series of small and large
events and some riots…such violations are utilized to generate
the threat and reality of greater violence, and build an infrastructure
of fear and intimidation." It further notes that minorities are
being grossly ill treated; there is gross inaction of the state Govt
to take action. Outlining the mechanism of the communalization, it
points out, "The report also describes in considerable detail
how the cadre of majoritarian communal organizations is indoctrinated
in hatred and violence against other communities it holds to be inherently
inferior. If such communalization is undertaken in Orissa, it is
indicative of the future of the nation… the signs are truly
ominous for India's democratic future." (p 70)

In all
the Adivasis areas, a dangerous situation, and occasionally an apparent
calm prevail. While swami Laxmananand’s killers deserve the
punishment, Swami’s followers are spreading hate in these areas
and vitiating the atmosphere. One can also see the communalization
of state apparatus and BJP protecting its marauding mobs either by
pulling the strings from the seats of power or by spreading the canards
against the weaker sections of society. Interestingly as pointed out
above, the December 2007 violence was launched on the pretext that
Christians have beaten up the Swami! We do need to look back and check
the activities of those spreading hate in the name of religion. While
the Christian sects are dime a dozen, all are not in the business
of proselytization. Few of them must be indulging in wrong practices,
but surely law of the land can take care of those not following it.
Permitting violence by the state machinery tantamount to violation
of the oath taken
by those in power, and they should to be suspended form the seats
of power. And if they are not able to protect the innocent citizens
of their state, why should they continue to rule? The question is
which political force is above suspicion and honest enough to abide
by the laws of Indian constitution? The question also arises, is the
state bureaucracy and police honest enough to protect the minorities?
Time to introspect and set the things right at deeper level of governance
and politics.